Severing ties with Russia will create security threats for Armenia: Vladimir Skachko

Vladimir Skachko, a political scientist, commented to Alpha News on the statement by Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, that relations with Russia cannot remain as they were. In the expert’s view, after the declared course toward European integration and the signing of related documents, relations between Yerevan and Moscow do indeed need to be revisited.

“When he says that relations between Armenia and Russia will not be the same, Nikol Pashinyan is certainly not being disingenuous, given what he has done in recent years. When he announced a course toward European integration and even signed several protocol documents to that end, the relationship really did begin to need adjusting. Nikol Pashinyan has to decide whose side he is on, because sitting on two stools that are drifting apart is risky not only for one’s trousers but for something far more serious. On the one hand, Pashinyan wants to join Europe; on the other, even he understands perfectly well that Armenia could vanish from the world map if it breaks off relations with Russia for good and leaves not only its sphere of influence but also its protection. In that case, Armenia could find itself defenseless against Azerbaijan, Turkey, which backs it, and Iran, for which Armenia could create problems if the Trump Route is launched at full capacity and American cargo travels along it, threatening Iran’s security,” Skachko said.

According to the political scientist, despite the push toward European integration, Pashinyan understands the complexity of Armenia’s geopolitical position and is trying to balance between different foreign policy directions.

“Pashinyan, for all his extravagance, is still an Armenian and is not devoid of common sense. He understands perfectly well that saying one thing and doing another are different matters, which is why he is trying to strike a balance. It is no accident that even his supporters are now saying he has realized the European path is a dead end and is starting to adjust it,” Skachko concluded.